Hundreds of members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), New Nigeria People’s Party and Action Alliance (AA) on Tuesday joined the Alliance for Democracy (AD) in Ondo state.
The defectors said the decision to dump their former parties was based on their conviction that only the AD government could rescue the state from the hopelessness currently being experienced by the people of the state.
They were received into the AD by the party’s governorship candidate in Saturday’s election, Chief Olusola Oke, at his campaign grand finale at the Democracy Park, Akure, the state capital.
The AA National Secretary, Kenneth Eze, announced the collapsed of the party’s structure in the state into the AD.
The governorship candidate of the party, Yinka Orokoto, also declared that he had stepped down for the AD standard bearer.
Leading the PDP defectors was a two-term member of the House of Assembly, Hon. Akindele Adeniyi.
The former PDP members explained the party had collapsed in the state, saying the only option for them was the AD.
The AD National Chairman, Chief Joseph Avazi, called on people of the state to vote for the candidate of the party in the election.
Avazi said the AD government would serve the state, adding that only the party could ensure the desired change.
Oke, who warned against any attempt to manipulate the poll, however, said that the Resident Electoral Commissioner in state, Segun Agbaje, had given assurance that the wish of the people would prevail.
The AD candidate urged people of the state to come out to vote for him and his running mate, Hon. Gani Dauda, on the Election Day.
He said: “We’ve came to repair. We’re also come to prevent further destruction of the good legacies of our former leaders.
“There are electric poles but no light. There are boreholes but no water. There are graduates but no jobs. This is unacceptable. It is on this note that that AD has come to restore the glory of the state.
“Our economy will be revived. AD government will eradicate poverty. We shall build on what Papa Ajasin, Chief Adefarati and Dr. Agagu built. Our mission is to create wealth and generate employment.”
